Board Game and Method of Playing the Same

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a board game and a method of playing a board game in which players attempt to be the first to have their set of game pieces move from a start to a finish space along a path formed of a plurality of path spaces. Each player moves by selecting a movement card with indicia directing the player to either move a game piece a number of spaces or providing the player with “jump”, “sack”, “switch”, or “return” instructions. If a numbered card is drawn, the player is permitted to move substantially any game piece, either the player&#39;s piece or any opponent&#39;s piece, on the board the allotted number of spaces. If a moving game piece lands on a space occupied by another game piece, the occupying game piece is returned to the start space.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a board game and more specifically, a board game in which the players draw cards having indicia providing movement instructions to the player. The game is a race-to-the-finish type game where the winner is the first player to successfully reach the finish with all of her game pieces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently there are numerous board games available to the public in which the players use tokens or game pieces which follow a path provided on a game board. During the game, the players move along the path and follow instructions printed on the path or are given options from which to choose. These board games typically involve the players attempting to be the first to reach or accomplish a common goal in order to win the game.

One common version or style of board games is a race game, which are “races” in that the first player to reach the goal is the winner. In this type of game, the players usually do not have any direct affect on their opponent's game, thus limiting game strategy to decision which only benefit or hinder themselves (e.g., which path to follow). Some prior art games that fall into this category include Candyland® and Life®. While these games are common and are entertaining to players in their own way, particularly to younger players, they are typically lacking in their need to devise any type of in-game strategy.

The present invention provides for a game and a method of playing a game that overcomes these drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a game and a method for playing a game in which players try to be the first to traverse a game board with all of their game pieces while preventing their opponents from doing the same.

The present invention includes the general features of typical race-style games where players attempt to be the first to reach or cross a finish point, while overcoming disadvantages attributed to these games. That is, the present invention provides a board game in which the players follow a game path divided into a collection of game spaces where movement is determined by instructions provided by indicia on the front of a plurality of game cards. The players follow the movement instructions, while being permitted to move not only their own game pieces, but substantially any game piece on the board.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a game where the competing players have a greater degree of freedom in affecting the outcome of the game than in traditional race-style games by both moving their own pieces and their opponents pieces while navigating across a path. Game strategy is required to both move one's own pieces toward the finish line, while taking positive actions to limit the likelihood of an opponent from reaching the finish instead of relying simply on luck to out-race the opposing players.

It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a method of playing a game in which players move around a game board by following the movement indicia on game cards drawn each turn. The game requires that a player must, if possible, move a game piece and follow the movement instructions even if the instructions benefit an opponent and/or are to the detriment of the player whose turn it is.

It is a further advantage of the present invention that it is directed to a method of playing a game, comprising the steps of: providing a game board having a path divided into path spaces, a start space located at one end of the path, and a finish space at the other end of the path; providing a plurality of sets of game pieces; providing a plurality of cards for indicating movement of game pieces about the game board, each of the cards including indicia thereon indicating movement; drawing a card to determine movement of the game pieces along the path; and winning the game by moving a complete set of game pieces to the finish space. The indicia being chosen from a group comprising: jump indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to a predetermined space along the path, sack indicia indicating switching a game piece in the start space with a game piece on the path, a switch indicia indicating switching a game piece on the path with another game piece on the path, a return indicia indicating returning a game piece on the path to the start space, and numbered indicia being chosen from a group consisting of a one indicating moving a game piece forward one space, a two indicating moving a game piece forward two spaces, a three indicating moving a game piece forward three spaces, a four indicating moving a game piece forward four spaces, a five indicating moving a game piece forward five spaces, a six indicating moving a game piece forward six spaces, and a seven indicating moving a game piece forward seven spaces.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparently to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, upon reference to the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a board game in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic plan view of the movement indicia side of the cards of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 provides a schematic diagram of a methodology of playing the game illustrated in FIGS. 1-2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the FIGS., the present invention is directed to a board game 10 including a game board or playing surface 12, a plurality of movement or game cards 14, and player representative tokens or game pieces 16.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the board or playing surface 12 of the game 10 is shown. Board 12 includes a path 20 with a start space 22 at one end of the path and a finish space 24 at the other end of path 20. The path 20 is formed from a plurality of individual spaces 26 which are printed on board 12 adjacent to each other. That is, in a manner where each path space 26 is adjacent to two other spaces. In the preferred embodiment, at total of twenty-five path spaces 26 are provided between start space 22 and finish space 24.

Additionally, at least one of the spaces 26 forming path 20 is deemed a “jump” space. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, three jump spaces 30, 31, and 32 are provided along path 20 in a spaced apart relationship. Namely, the first jump space 30 is located eight spaces from start space 22, second jump space 31, is located four spaces from first jump space 30, and the third jump space 32 is located four spaces from second jump space 31. As will be discussed in greater detail below, upon drawing a particular card 14, a player may be directed to move a game piece 16 directly to one of these spaces 30-32 from the start space 22, thereby bypassing a portion of the path 20 to bring that game piece closer to the finish space 24.

Furthermore, the last seven spaces of path 20 are deemed “approach” spaces, collectively denoted 34 with each of these approach spaces including a numeral indicating the number of spaces that particular space is from finish space 24. These spaces 34 are numbered to inform the players how far away a game piece located thereon is from the finish space. Additionally, by numbering the approach spaces 34, these spaces are readily distinguishable to the players as being an approach space, which as disclosed below, limits the movement options for game pieces located thereon.

In the preferred embodiment, there are four sets of three game pieces 16. Each of the sets has a different color to easily identify the players' game pieces.

The remaining components of game 10 are a collection or stack of game cards 14 which indicates movement of the game pieces 16 about the game board 10. Each card 14 is a piece of resilient paper material, such as card stock, that is approximately the size of a standard playing card.

As shown in the FIGS., each game card 14 has a front surface 36 and a rear surface 38. The rear surface 38 of each of the game cards 14 is identical to each other and may be stylized in a game-themed pattern or configuration. The front surface 36 of each game card 14 includes movement indicia 40 thereon indicating movement of game pieces 16. A picture representation 40 a of the movement may be provided in addition to the written instructions. The indicia 40 include the numbers one through seven, jump indicia, sack indicia, switch indicia, and return indicia. A one indicia indicates moving a game piece forward one space (e.g., as shown in the card illustrated on the left of FIG. 2). A two indicia indicates moving a game piece forward two spaces. A three indicia indicates moving a game piece forward three spaces. A four indicia indicates moving a game piece forward four spaces. A five indicia indicates moving a game piece forward five spaces. A six indicia indicates moving a game piece forward six spaces. A seven indicia indicates moving a game piece forward seven spaces. If there are no game pieces eligible to move the number of spaces called for by the numbered indicia, the player loses her turn.

The jump indicia provide special movement instructions to the player who drew the card 14. A jump to first jump space indicia indicates moving a game piece from the start space 22 to the first jump space 30. A jump to second jump space indicia indicates moving a game piece from the start space 22 to the second jump space 31. A jump to third jump space indicia indicates moving a game piece from the start space 22 to the third jump space 32. If there are no game pieces to “jump” from start space 22, the drawing player loses her turn.

The sack indicia provide additional special movement instructions to the player who drew the card 14. A sack an opponent with an opponent indicia indicates the player who drew the card must replace a first opponent's game piece in the start space 22 with a different opponent's game piece on the path 20, while returning the “sacked” piece back to start space 22. A sack yourself with an opponent indicia indicates the player who drew the card must replace one of her game pieces on the path 20 with an opponent's game piece still in the start space 22. The “sacked” piece is returned back to start space 22. A sack an opponent with yourself indicia indicates that the player who drew the card must switch one of her game pieces in the start space 24 with an opponent's game piece on the path 20. If there are no game pieces to “sack”, the player loses her turn.

The switch indicia provide further special movement instructions to the player who drew the card 14. A switch an opponent with an opponent indicia indicates that the player who drew the card must switch a first opponent's game piece on the path 20 with a different opponent's game piece on the path 20. A switch yourself with an opponent indicia indicates that the player who drew the card 14 must switch one of her game pieces on the path 20 with an opponent's game piece on the path 20 (e.g., as shown in the card illustrated on the right of FIG. 2). If there are no game pieces to switch with, the player loses her turn.

The return indicia provide still further special movement instructions to the player who drew the card 14. A return an opponent indicia indicates that the player who drew the card 14 must return an opponent's game piece on the path 20 back to the start space 22. A return yourself indicia indicates that the player who drew the card 14 must returns one of her game pieces on the path 20 back to the start space 22. If there are no game pieces to return to the start space (i.e., all of the game pieces are either on the finish space 24 or are on the start space 22), the player loses her turn.

Rules of the Game

The game requires two to four players.

Each player selects one of the colored sets of game pieces 16 and places all of the game pieces upon the start space 22.

To start, each player draws a card 14 until they get a number one through seven. The player drawing the highest number begins play. The person to the left of the first player is second with the playing order continuing around the board in a clock-wise direction.

The first player draws a card 14 and, if possible, moves one of the game pieces out of the start space 22.

If a card 14 with numbered indicia is drawn, the player whose turn it is can move any game piece 16 on the board.

During a player's turn, that player must move a game piece even if the game piece is not their own.

Once a game piece has reached the finish space 24, that piece is out of play.

If the movement of a game piece results in the moving piece ending its movement on a space already occupied by another game piece (whether an opponent's or their own), the moving piece takes the place of the previous piece and the previous piece is returned to the start space 22.

When a game piece 16 ends its movement on one of the numbered approach spaces 34, that game piece must stay on that particular approach space until a game card 14 with the exact number of that approach space is played and the player drawing that card moves the game piece into the finish space 24. Any other numbered game card 14 cannot move a game piece in an approach space 34. Game cards 14 with “sack”, “switch”, and “return” indicia, however, can still be played against a game piece in an approach space 34.

During a player's turn, once the player moves and releases a game piece, their turn is over.

To win, a player must get all three of her game pieces 16 to the finish space 24.

With reference now to FIG. 3, a method of playing a board game 10 in accordance with the present invention will now be described. The method of playing is schematically illustrated in flow chart 100. As represented in block 102, the game is initially set up by placing the game board 12 in a central location relative to the players so each player can readily see the entire board 12. In this step, players select a set of game pieces 16 which will represent the player on the board 12 during the game. The playing order is determined by drawing game cards 14 with the highest number moving first. The board 12 is prepared by randomizing the game cards 14 and placing them front face 36 down.

Next, as represented in block 104, players take turns moving around the game board 12 along path 20 by drawing a game card 14 and, if possible, moving a game piece 16 onto the path 20. As provided in the game rules above, the player is not limited to moving only his/her own game pieces, but can move any eligible game piece that is not already at the finish space 24. After a player has moved, she will have stopped on one of the various spaces along the path 20.

Step 106 follows step 104 where the players determine if the player has moved a game piece to an unoccupied game space 26. If, during step 106, the selected game piece 16 stops on a space occupied by another game piece, then step 106 is followed by the step 108. In step 108, the moving piece displaces the occupying piece and returns the occupying piece to the start space 22 and then that player's movement turn is over and it is the next player's turn. If during step 106, the space is unoccupied, step 110 follows.

During step 110, the moving piece lands on an unoccupied space that is not the finish space 24, then that player's movement turn is over and it is the next player's turn. If however, the player has drawn a numbered game card 14 that equals the number of spaces a game piece 16 is from the finish space, that player can elect (or may be forced) to move the game piece occupying that approach space 34 to the finish space 24. In this case, step 112 follows step 110.

In step 112, the player determine if the game piece moved to the finish space 24 is the last piece for a particular player. If the player moves a game piece to the finish space 24 and the moving piece is the third and last game piece of a particular player to reach the finish space, step 114 follows step 112 and the player represented by the last game piece is the winner and the game 10 is over. Otherwise, the drawing player's movement turn is over and it is the next player's turn. These steps 104-112 are continued until a winner is decided.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A method of playing a game, comprising the steps of: providing a game board, said game board having a path divided into path spaces, a start space located at one end of said path, and a finish space at the other end of said path; providing a plurality of sets of game pieces; providing a plurality of cards for indicating movement of game pieces about said game board, each of said cards including indicia thereon indicating movement, said indicia being chosen from a group comprising: a jump indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to a predetermined space along said path, a sack indicia indicating switching a game piece in the start space with a game piece on said path, a switch indicia indicating switching a game piece on said path with another game piece on said path, a return indicia indicating returning a game piece on said path to the start space, and numbered indicia being chosen from a group consisting of a one indicating moving a game piece forward one space, a two indicating moving a game piece forward two spaces, a three indicating moving a game piece forward three spaces, a four indicating moving a game piece forward four spaces, a five indicating moving a game piece forward five spaces, a six indicating moving a game piece forward six spaces, a seven indicating moving a game piece forward seven spaces; drawing a card to determine movement of said game pieces along said path; and winning said game by moving a set of game pieces to said finish space.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: sending a game piece back to the start space by landing in said game piece's path space by another game piece.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing a plurality of adjacent approach spaces along said path immediately before the finish space; wherein a player drawing a card with numbered indicia selects and moves any game piece that is not on an approach space or on the finish space.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of providing a plurality of adjacent approach spaces comprises: providing seven approach spaces at the end of said path, wherein a game piece on one of said approach spaces is only movable to the finish space if a card is drawn with numbered indicia equal to the number of spaces said game piece's approach space is away from the finish space.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the path includes at least a first, second, and third jump space, wherein the step of providing a plurality of cards with jump indicia further comprises: providing a card with jump to first jump space indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to the first jump space; providing a card with jump to second jump space indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to the second jump space; and providing a card with jump to third jump space indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to the third jump space.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a plurality of cards with sack indicia further comprises: providing a card with sack an opponent with an opponent indicia indicating switching a first opponent's game piece in the start space with a different opponent's game piece on the path; providing a card with sack yourself with an opponent indicia indicating the player drawing cards switches one of the drawing player's game pieces on the path with an opponent's game piece in the start space; and providing a card with sack an opponent with yourself indicia indicating the player drawing cards switches one of the drawing player's game pieces in the start space with an opponent's game piece on the path.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a plurality of cards with switch indicia further comprises: providing a card with switch an opponent with an opponent indicia indicating switching a first opponent's game piece on the path with a different opponent's game piece on the path; and providing a card with switch yourself with an opponent indicia indicating the player drawing cards switches one of the drawing player's game pieces on the path with an opponent's game piece on the path.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a plurality of cards with return indicia further comprises: providing a card with return an opponent indicia indicating returning an opponent's game piece on the path back to the start space; and providing a card with return yourself indicia indicating the player drawing cards returns one of the drawing player's game pieces on the path back to the start space.
 9. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of: sending a game piece back to the start space by landing in said game piece's path space by another game piece; providing seven adjacent approach spaces along said path immediately before the finish space and at least a first, second, and third jump space along said path prior to said approach spaces; providing a card with jump to first jump space indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to the first jump space; providing a card with jump to second jump space indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to the second jump space; providing a card with jump to third jump space indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to the third jump space. providing a card with sack an opponent with an opponent indicia indicating switching a first opponent's game piece in the start space with a different opponent's game piece on the path; providing a card with sack yourself with an opponent indicia indicating the player drawing cards switches one of the drawing player's game pieces on the path with an opponent's game piece in the start space; providing a card with sack an opponent with yourself indicia indicating the player drawing cards switches one of the drawing player's game pieces in the start space with an opponent's game piece on the path; providing a card with switch an opponent with an opponent indicia indicating switching a first opponent's game piece on the path with a different opponent's game piece on the path; providing a card with switch yourself with an opponent indicia indicating the player drawing cards switches one of the drawing player's game pieces on the path with an opponent's game piece on the path providing a card with return an opponent indicia indicating returning an opponent's game piece on the path back to the start space; providing a card with return yourself indicia indicating the player drawing cards returns one of the drawing player's game pieces on the path back to the start space; wherein a game piece on one of said approach spaces is only movable to the finish space if a card is drawn with numbered indicia equal to the number of spaces said game piece's approach space is away from the finish space; and wherein a player drawing a card with numbered indicia selects and moves any game piece that is not on an approach space or on the finish space.
 10. A method of playing a game comprising the steps of: providing a game board, said game board having a path divided into path spaces, a start space located at one end of said path, a finish space at the other end of said path, seven adjacent approach spaces along said path immediately before the finish space, and first, second, and third jump spaces spaced apart along said path prior to said approach spaces; providing a plurality of sets of game pieces; providing a plurality of cards for indicating movement of game pieces about said game board; sending a game piece back to the start space by landing in said game piece's path space by another game piece; drawing a card to determine movement of said game pieces along said path wherein a player drawing a card with a numbered indicia on said card selects and moves any game piece that is not on an approach space or on the finish space; and winning said game by moving a set of game pieces to said finish space, wherein a game piece on one of said approach spaces is only movable to the finish space if a card is drawn with a numbered indicia equal to the number of spaces said game piece's approach space is away from the finish space.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of providing a plurality of cards comprises: each of said cards including indicia thereon indicating movement, said indicia being chosen from a group comprising: a jump indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to a predetermined space along said path, a sack indicia indicating switching a game piece in the start space with a game piece on said path, a switch indicia indicating switching a game piece on said path with another game piece on said path, a return indicia indicating returning a game piece on said path to the start space, and numbered indicia indicating moving a game piece forward a number of spaces equal to the number of said numbered indicia.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said numbered indicia being chosen from a group consisting of a one indicating moving a game piece forward one space, a two indicating moving a game piece forward two spaces, a three indicating moving a game piece forward three spaces, a four indicating moving a game piece forward four spaces, a five indicating moving a game piece forward five spaces, a six indicating moving a game piece forward six spaces, a seven indicating moving a game piece forward seven spaces.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing a plurality of cards with jump indicia further comprises: providing a card with jump to first jump space indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to the first jump space; providing a card with jump to second jump space indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to the second jump space; and providing a card with jump to third jump space indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to the third jump space.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing a plurality of cards with sack indicia further comprises: providing a card with sack an opponent with an opponent indicia indicating switching a first opponent's game piece in the start space with a different opponent's game piece on the path; providing a card with sack yourself with an opponent indicia indicating the player drawing cards switches one of the drawing player's game pieces on the path with an opponent's game piece in the start space; and providing a card with sack an opponent with yourself indicia indicating the player drawing cards switches one of the drawing player's game pieces in the start space with an opponent's game piece on the path.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing a plurality of cards with switch indicia further comprises: providing a card with switch an opponent with an opponent indicia indicating switching a first opponent's game piece on the path with a different opponent's game piece on the path; and providing a card with switch yourself with an opponent indicia indicating the player drawing cards switches one of the drawing player's game pieces on the path with an opponent's game piece on the path.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing a plurality of cards with return indicia further comprises: providing a card with return an opponent indicia indicating returning an opponent's game piece on the path back to the start space; and providing a card with return yourself indicia indicating the player drawing cards returns one of the drawing player's game pieces on the path back to the start space.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of providing a plurality of cards comprises: each of said cards including indicia thereon indicating movement, said indicia being chosen from a group comprising: numbered indicia being chosen from a group consisting of a one indicating moving a game piece forward one space, a two indicating moving a game piece forward two spaces, a three indicating moving a game piece forward three spaces, a four indicating moving a game piece forward four spaces, a five indicating moving a game piece forward five spaces, a six indicating moving a game piece forward six spaces, a seven indicating moving a game piece forward seven spaces; jump to first jump space indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to the first jump space; jump to second jump space indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to the second jump space; jump to third jump space indicia indicating moving a game piece from the start space to the third jump space; sack an opponent with an opponent indicia indicating switching a first opponent's game piece in the start space with a different opponent's game piece on the path; sack yourself with an opponent indicia indicating the player drawing cards switches one of the drawing player's game pieces on the path with an opponent's game piece in the start space; sack an opponent with yourself indicia indicating the player drawing cards switches one of the drawing player's game pieces in the start space with an opponent's game piece on the path; switch an opponent with an opponent indicia indicating switching a first opponent's game piece on the path with a different opponent's game piece on the path; switch yourself with an opponent indicia indicating the player drawing cards switches one of the drawing player's game pieces on the path with an opponent's game piece on the path; return an opponent indicia indicating returning an opponent's game piece on the path back to the start space; and return yourself indicia indicating the player drawing cards returns one of the drawing player's game pieces on the path back to the start space. 